Lecturer in Contemporary Art Curation
Requisition ID: 11702
Location: Newcastle, GB
Contract Type: Open Ended
Working Pattern: Full Time
Posted Date: 23-Sep-2021
We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.
Salary:
Lecturer Grade F: £36,382 – £40,927 per annum
Lecturer Grade G: £42,149 – £50,296 per annum
Closing Date: 21 October 2021
The Role
- We wish to appoint a 1.0 FTE Lecturer in Contemporary Art Curation. Based both in Fine Art and Media Culture Heritage (MCH), which are part of the School of Arts and Cultures, your primary role will be to contribute to the delivery, development and administration of the BA Fine Art and MFA programmes and to build collaborations between these programmes and the MA/PGDip in Art Museum and Gallery Studies based in Media, Culture, Heritage (MCH). In particular, we are keen for the post holder to develop and deliver teaching about contemporary art curation in both departments. You should be responsive to the particular nature of teaching students specialising in contemporary Fine Art practice and students who are interested in curating.
- We are looking for someone who can build on and help expand our current teaching provision and research in Fine Art and MCH. We are seeking a talented individual from within the field of contemporary art curation, who is passionate about their specialist area of research, questioning and inventive in their approach to teaching and who would also enjoy working collaboratively to contribute to broader team-taught modules. We are also looking for an individual who has the practical skills, knowledge and experience to work with our students to curate exhibitions.
- We are looking for an inclusive approach to the teaching of contemporary art curation, and you should be able to demonstrate an awareness of contemporary critical issues in the field globally. Applicants must demonstrate (through formal or informal actions) a commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and widening participation in their spheres of work.
- It is expected that you will have a PhD and experience of teaching at university level, or commensurate experience in contemporary art curation. You will be expected to show evidence of existing and planned publications (or equivalent), and to demonstrate a clear research trajectory that will contribute to a successful future REF submission. You will be expected to show evidence of a track record of collaborating on external grants or a willingness to develop this.
The 1.0 FTE post is open-ended from January 2022, or earlier if possible.
Further information about Fine Art, our taught programmes and staff research, can be found at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/sacs/fineart/
Informal enquiries concerning the position can be made to Irene Brown, Head of Fine Art (irene.brown@newcastle.ac.uk ) and Areti Galani, Degree Programme Director of Art Museum and Gallery Studies, MCH (areti.galani@newcastle.ac.uk).
More about the Programmes
- The BA(Hons) Fine Art at Newcastle is a four-year studio-based programme. Studio staff teach and conduct research across the broad domain of the visual arts. Students are similarly encouraged to work across the spectrum of Fine Art practice. A stream of professional practice projects and activities, ‘LifeWorkArt’, is integrated with studio-focused modules and directly engages with the cultural life of the region. Both within and beyond the curriculum students are actively engaged in testing their work out in public and semi-public contexts, and have access to project and exhibition spaces to test curatorial propositions. Art History is also taken by all Fine Art UG students with a dissertation requirement in Year 3, and an Art Writing option in Year 4.
- The MFA is a two-year (six semester) programme with professional practice and studio based modules that include the requirement for exhibititing work in venues outside and within the university. Fine Art also has a thriving PGR community.
- The MA/PGDIp in Art Museum and Gallery Studies (based in MCH) is a year-long interdisciplinary postgraduate programme that provides students with the theoretical and practice-based expertise to pursue a variety of careers in the art museum and gallery sector.
- Fine Art curates its own space for research and teaching, the ExLibris Gallery, with a diverse programme of exhibitions and events by staff, PhD researchers, students and visitors. Research and teaching is also supported by Fine Art’s proximity to the Hatton Gallery, which is housed in the same building. The Hatton has a permanent collection and has a programme of both contemporary and historic temporary exhibitions. Its permanent collection consists of works of art from five centuries and includes the Elterwater Merzbarn Wall construction by Kurt Schwitters.
- Currently in Fine Art, there are around 240 undergraduate, 16 postgraduate (MFA) students and 25 PhD students. Fine Art at Newcastle performs extremely well in all national indicators and league tables, both for teaching and research. The successful candidate will contribute to maintaining this strong profile, and enhancing Fine Art’s reputation for innovative teaching.
Key Accountabilities
- To contribute to the delivery, development and administration of the BA(Hons) undergraduate programme, the MFA within Fine Art, and to the MA/PGDip in Art Museum and Gallery Studies in Media, Culture, Heritage (MCH) and to build collaborations between them in the area of curating
To develop new modules or module content related to contemporary art curation - To maintain an active research profile and to demonstrate a clear research trajectory that will contribute to a successful future REF submission
- Where appropriate, you will lead on the development of externally-funded research applications in collaboration with other colleagues in the subject area, and more widely across Newcastle University
- To contribute to raising our profile with sector professionals through organising events which bring together practitioners and academics, as well as through your own research collaborations with sector organisations
- To contribute, where necessary, to the teaching and administrative duties within Fine Art and Media, Culture, Heritage
- To offer pastoral support to home and international students from a variety of academic and social backgrounds
The Person (Essential)
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Advanced knowledge and experience of contemporary art curation
- A research specialism that is at the forefront of research in the field
- Interest in working in cross-disciplinary and collaborative teaching/research teams
- A research trajectory commensurate with submission to future REF. A good record of achievement in teaching at HE level, or clear evidence of potential to achieve this
Desirable
- Innovative approaches to teaching at HE level, preferably with experience of teaching contemporary art curation
- Experience of supervising dissertations and/or projects at undergraduate and/or postgraduate levels
- Evidence of the recruitment of PhD students or potential to do so
Attributes and Behaviour
- An inclusive and innovative approach to teaching
- Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and share responsibility for course delivery
- Ability to work enthusiastically and positively with students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including those required for pastoral care of students from a variety of academic and social backgrounds
- Interest in working in cross-disciplinary and collaborative teaching/research teams
- Willingness to engage with administrative tasks within both the subject area and the School of Arts and Cultures
- Excellent communication, organisational and presentation skills, with a clear ability to meet deadlines
- If not already held, a willingness to study for an HE teaching qualification
- Willingness to apply for external RCUK or similar research funding
Qualifications
- PhD in Contemporary Art Curation (or a cognate discipline e.g art museum and gallery studies, fine art, history of art, cultural studies, sociology, or anthropology) or commensurate achievement in the sector
- HE Teaching qualification (Desirable).
- Newcastle University is committed to being a fully inclusive Global University which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, as well as being open to flexible working practices.
The University holds a silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. The University also holds the HR Excellence in Research award for our work to support the career development of our researchers, and is a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
We understand how important the full employment package is to our colleagues at Newcastle University and we are committed to providing a great range of benefits and discounts for all. You can learn more about what is available here on our Benefits Website page.
Requisition ID: 11702
